On Monday 19 June, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti, visited the 15th Wing in Cervia, accompanied by the Commander of the Air Force Division, Air Force General Alberto Biavati, by the Chief Warrant Officer and Other Ranks President 1st Lieutenant Mario Bonaventura, and by the Air Force Division Command Chief Warrant Officer and Other Ranks President, 1st Lieutenant Raffaele Pirozzi.
Following the welcome address by the Wing Commander, Colonel Andrea Giuseppe Savina, General Goretti, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the death of the ace of aces of the First World War, Francesco Baracca, in his hometown of Lugo di Romagna, met with the President of the SGMT of the 15th Wing, First Warrant Officer Giovanni Romano, the CO.BA.R. delegation and the Unitary Trade Union Representation (R.S.U.) of the 15th Wing, the Mayor of Lugo di Romagna, Davide Ranalli, and the Presidents of the Italian Air Force Association and the National Union of Retired Officers of Italy (UNUCI).
Subsequently, the Commander of the 15th held a briefing To the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Commander of the Air Force Logistics Command, updating them on the activities conducted by the 15th Wing, both in light of the recent reorganisation of the Wing and on the fundamental contribution made by personnel during the flood emergency that affected a large part of the Emilia-Romagna region, with a significant contribution from the crews who rescued 332 people.
At the end of the briefing, General Goretti and General Biavati met the Wing's personnel at the Hangar of the 83rd SAR Group. On this occasion, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force stressed the extremely high professionalism with which the military and civilian personnel of the Wing operate daily to ensure that the 15th Wing is always ready to provide maximum support in all circumstances, responding rapidly when called upon to intervene.
The visit concluded with the customary signing of the 15th Wing's Book of Honour, where General Goretti thanked the men and women of the 15th Wing: “For all that you do daily with your S.A.R. Centres, silently and with great professionalism. You are always there, day and night.”.
The 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force guarantees, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without interruption, the Search and Rescue service for the recovery of crews from crashed military aircraft, through autonomous operations or in conjunction with other land, air, or naval assets. It contributes to rescue operations for the safeguarding of human life and to Forest Fire Fighting (AIB) operations, cooperating with Civil Protection and other State organisations.
Integrate the National Air Defence device through operations to counter the threat from low and very low-performance aircraftSlow Movers Interceptionand support for the security of sensitive areas and objectives during large public events.
It organises the training and qualification of pilots and crews for flying units engaged in rescue operations, as well as basic and advanced survival training in maritime and mountain environments.
From its inception to today, the crews of the 15th Wing have saved approximately 7,800 people in peril of their lives.
